Frustration with Adorama shipping UPS and USPS

When I used to order with Adorama my stuff would go out in the evening, travel one full day, then get delivered on the second day. It's going from New Jersey to Cleveland, Ohio. I've noticed that in a bunch of more recent orders, I get the ship confirmation but that it either doesn't show up in the UPS system or they screw things up and it takes longer than they claim it should. For example, here are two orders shipped last Thursday and one shipped end of August. Even one shipped USPS just hung in the system for well over a day before being sent through the system.

Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/25/2018 8:27 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
09/25/2018 5:23 A.M. Loaded on Delivery Vehicle
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/24/2018 4:35 P.M. Destination Scan
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/22/2018 1:20 P.M. Arrival Scan
Parsippany, NJ, United States 09/22/2018 3:36 A.M. Departure Scan
09/22/2018 12:27 A.M. Arrival Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/21/2018 11:42 P.M. Departure Scan
09/21/2018 1:26 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/20/2018 11:32 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
09/20/2018 11:04 P.M. Origin Scan
United States 09/20/2018 9:14 P.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS


Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/25/2018 8:27 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/24/2018 4:33 P.M. Destination Scan
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/22/2018 1:20 P.M. Arrival Scan
Parsippany, NJ, United States 09/22/2018 3:36 A.M. Departure Scan
09/22/2018 12:27 A.M. Arrival Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/21/2018 11:42 P.M. Departure Scan
09/21/2018 12:20 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/20/2018 11:34 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
09/20/2018 11:34 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
09/20/2018 11:05 P.M. Origin Scan
United States 09/20/2018 9:14 P.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS


And here are the couple recent ones

RICHFIELD, OH, US 09/05/2018 10:47 A.M. DELIVERED
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/05/2018 8:48 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
09/05/2018 6:03 A.M. Loaded on Delivery Vehicle
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/01/2018 1:36 P.M. Arrival Scan
Parsippany, NJ, United States 09/01/2018 3:31 A.M. Departure Scan
09/01/2018 2:15 A.M. Arrival Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/01/2018 1:36 A.M. Departure Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 08/31/2018 6:46 P.M. Origin Scan
United States 08/30/2018 9:18 P.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS

and

August 23, 2018, 1:46 am
Accepted at USPS Origin Facility
ELIZABETHPORT, NJ 07206

August 21, 2018, 7:07 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
ELIZABETHPORT, NJ 07206

I am frustrated about the last one because technically it shipped the same day according to their shipping label, but it really didn't get into the USPS system until 2 days calendar later. B&H on the other hand have been shipping everything lately via FedEx and they have been getting to me in the usual 2 days that Adorama always did.

Is anyone else experiencing the same issues or am I just the unlucky one with shipping?

I don't see a problem just order from B&H.

I've had purchases take all sorts of delays, vacations in limbo,
unusual detours, take forever to enter tracking system, etc...

This has happened on several recent occasions within the past year,
from just as many different vendors. Seems to be a trend.

Remember also that weather events and similar can interfere
with typical package travels, and we've had a few in the
not too distant past.

mikeinctown wrote in post #18715612
When I used to order with Adorama my stuff would go out in the evening, travel one full day, then get delivered on the second day. It's going from New Jersey to Cleveland, Ohio. I've noticed that in a bunch of more recent orders, I get the ship confirmation but that it either doesn't show up in the UPS system or they screw things up and it takes longer than they claim it should. For example, here are two orders shipped last Thursday and one shipped end of August. Even one shipped USPS just hung in the system for well over a day before being sent through the system.

Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/25/2018 8:27 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
09/25/2018 5:23 A.M. Loaded on Delivery Vehicle
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/24/2018 4:35 P.M. Destination Scan
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/22/2018 1:20 P.M. Arrival Scan
Parsippany, NJ, United States 09/22/2018 3:36 A.M. Departure Scan
09/22/2018 12:27 A.M. Arrival Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/21/2018 11:42 P.M. Departure Scan
09/21/2018 1:26 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/20/2018 11:32 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
09/20/2018 11:04 P.M. Origin Scan
United States 09/20/2018 9:14 P.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS


Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/25/2018 8:27 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/24/2018 4:33 P.M. Destination Scan
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/22/2018 1:20 P.M. Arrival Scan
Parsippany, NJ, United States 09/22/2018 3:36 A.M. Departure Scan
09/22/2018 12:27 A.M. Arrival Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/21/2018 11:42 P.M. Departure Scan
09/21/2018 12:20 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/20/2018 11:34 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
09/20/2018 11:34 P.M. We've incorrectly sorted this package which may cause a delay.
09/20/2018 11:05 P.M. Origin Scan
United States 09/20/2018 9:14 P.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS


And here are the couple recent ones

RICHFIELD, OH, US 09/05/2018 10:47 A.M. DELIVERED
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/05/2018 8:48 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
09/05/2018 6:03 A.M. Loaded on Delivery Vehicle
Middleburg Heights, OH, United States 09/01/2018 1:36 P.M. Arrival Scan
Parsippany, NJ, United States 09/01/2018 3:31 A.M. Departure Scan
09/01/2018 2:15 A.M. Arrival Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 09/01/2018 1:36 A.M. Departure Scan
Secaucus, NJ, United States 08/31/2018 6:46 P.M. Origin Scan
United States 08/30/2018 9:18 P.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS

and

August 23, 2018, 1:46 am
Accepted at USPS Origin Facility
ELIZABETHPORT, NJ 07206

August 21, 2018, 7:07 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
ELIZABETHPORT, NJ 07206

I am frustrated about the last one because technically it shipped the same day according to their shipping label, but it really didn't get into the USPS system until 2 days calendar later. B&H on the other hand have been shipping everything lately via FedEx and they have been getting to me in the usual 2 days that Adorama always did.

Is anyone else experiencing the same issues or am I just the unlucky one with shipping?

I’m sorry to see this has been your experience, however it is a shipping issue ie UPS/USPS not an Adorama failure.

We are going to see this more often as we all abandon the High Street for online shopping - and The upcoming Holiday Season will very likely be exponentially more frustrating than last year.

HelenOster wrote in post #18716059
I’m sorry to see this has been your experience, however it is a shipping issue ie UPS/USPS not an Adorama failure.

We are going to see this more often as we all abandon the High Street for online shopping - and The upcoming Holiday Season will very likely be exponentially more frustrating than last year.

Talk about passing the buck. If Adorama choose to use UPS/USPS for their deliveries then they also have to take some responsibility for the shoddy service.

john crossley wrote in post #18716404
Talk about passing the buck. If Adorama choose to use UPS/USPS for their deliveries then they also have to take some responsibility for the shoddy service.

I generally disagree. The shipping industry is an oligopoly which means there are only so many service providers out there.

Everything I've ever received from Adorama has been well packaged, and I can't say that about some of the other players in the industry.

HelenOster wrote in post #18716059
I’m sorry to see this has been your experience, however it is a shipping issue ie UPS/USPS not an Adorama failure.

In defense of Adorama (and United Parcel Service) a quick look at the first two shipments indicates the following:

#1. United Parcel Service departed on Thursday arrived Tuesday. Note that this spanned a weekend.

#2. United Parcel again; departed on a Friday arrived on Wednesday. Note that this not only spans a weekend but it was Labor Day Weekend so Monday also was a holiday.

No mention is made of any priority shipping method so when you factor in a weekend on these two shipments I would say they were about what I would have expected.

As to the 3rd shipment...It is the United States Postal Service. Best I can say is the reliability with USPS is terrible; and I say that out of dealing with stuff related to the death of my sister last December. When you are the Executor of an estate you become well aware of things being mailed, shipped, etc. and of course you are also aware of its arrival. I would say the risk of loss, delay, etc. is quite high with the postal service but the average person may not be aware of it. I am talking for the most part, mailing between Cleveland OH and Philadelphia.

john crossley wrote in post #18716404
Talk about passing the buck. If Adorama choose to use UPS/USPS for their deliveries then they also have to take some responsibility for the shoddy service.

Wow sage advice. So every retailer is responsible for how the shipping companies work? What are the options? Fedex and UPS both subcontract shipments out to the USPS. It is a way to try to make USPS more viable (thank the US govt depite USPS being held by a single subsidized corporate entity). There are no other options, without raising costs to the consumer.

I have to deal with USPS personally every single day, and watch their progress every single day, and watch their rate hikes twice a year. They have to pay for those ongoing pensions, so despite fuel not going up, and carrier pay not going up, the rates keep going up. Not fun, and there is nothing that can be done about it. UPS and FedEx will continue to use USPS on many lanes of their business, that isn't going to change, and USPS will do the absolute minimum to get an envelope or package to where it needs to go, which means delays It is just what it is. If you don't like it, then contact UPS customer support and ask why they employ such tactics. The answer will be two-fold.

It is clear you don't ship much, if anything. If you ran a business and shipped product, you would either have to deal with this, or you would be paying exorbitant priority shipping rates, or passing those costs to the customer and watch sales reduce. There are only 3 options for a business to manage shipping (free or reduced shipping and just deal with the subcontracted shipping lanes, pay for priority shipping yourself, or charge the customer to subsidize the priority shipping). I do #1 and #3 in my business and still deal with complaints.

Finally for the OP, "the way it was, isn't the way it is, and neither won't be the way it will be".... There are at least 3 major factors that will impact online sales and shipping in the coming months and years.

john crossley wrote in post #18716404
Talk about passing the buck. If Adorama choose to use UPS/USPS for their deliveries then they also have to take some responsibility for the shoddy service.

This is just plain comical. Adorama fulfilled their responsibility. They shipped in a timely manner. What happens once they turn the parcel over to the carrier, Adorama is out of the loop. This is something over which they have no control.

Honestly, the shipping times above don't appear to be that bad. And it isn't going to get any better. The USPS is terrible at best with regard to time. But I guess in their defense, consider the number of parcels handled daily in light of the fact that so many buy most everything online. Add to that the upcoming holidays......

Kind of a sad statement that we have gotten so spoiled that we are now complaining about the delivery times that it takes for our toys to arrive at our door. Next time you place an order for goodies for your fun and enjoyment think about the great number of people that have to walk several miles to tote water back to their home to drink, cook with and bathe. Think about those that might not have eaten anything in a couple of days.

That, to me, makes how long it takes to get our photographic equipment seem kind of unimportant.

Either one gets used to the time it takes to receive items when they receive "free shipping" and expect delays, or they pay a surcharge to guarantee some attention and speed is address in that delivery.

We live in the "immediate and now" world. Back in the day when we had to go to the library to look anything up, or you were rich enough to be able to buy that encyclopedia set from the traveling salesman, or had to put our fingers into holes on a phone and spin around 7 or more digits, we were just used to delays. Now everything is "instant".

You now go to an antique mall and you can find these phones and complete encyclopedia sets. Along with pagers, blackberries, and a host of not-so-long ago items too. Remnants of a people that used to be more tolerant and less stressed about how long things took... I blame the microwave, it all went downhill from there. What, I can heat up my mac and cheese in just 30 sec? Wow! No boiling water for 15 minutes and putting in the mac, waiting for it to fluff up, and then add the powder and milk. Wow!

The Fedex- UPS to the USPS is not done to keep the USPS viable its a cheap way for them to get the product delivered. You opt for
free delivery on a nickel dime Item this is what you get. Typical routing Item picked up from retailer next stop hub out to USPS hub
Fedex-UPS are done. Item off to yet another maybe two USPS hubs then to local post office for delivery. You get what you pay for.

From experience coast to coast nothing better than flat rate Priority Mail. Other distances you must do your homework nothing
better out there.

I ordered a Meural canvas from Adorama. It was shipped the next day with a promised delivery two days later on a Wednesday. It was at my door on Tuesday, delivered by UPS. Your frustrating experience is not universal.

Furlan wrote in post #18716579
The Fedex- UPS to the USPS is not done to keep the USPS viable its a cheap way for them to get the product delivered. You opt for
free delivery on a nickel dime Item this is what you get. Typical routing Item picked up from retailer next stop hub out to USPS hub
Fedex-UPS are done. Item off to yet another maybe two USPS hubs then to local post office for delivery. You get what you pay for.

From experience coast to coast nothing better than flat rate Priority Mail. Other distances you must do your homework nothing
better out there.

It certainly is to keep them viable. They are bleeding cash each year, and more emphasis has been placed to get USPS into the middle of non-priority shipments. This impacts both truckload and intermodal/rail business as well. Of course what would I know, being in the supply chain and intermodal industry?

USPS isn't needed to get shipments to your door. It happens that this arrangement can create profit for UPS and Fedex, but the emphasis placed years ago was to increase USPS traffic in certain lanes and keep the mail carriers busy. It can be a win-win situation, and is in many cases, but this was a way to originally add to the USPS model to stop bleeding of cash, and now has become a diverse business model where the consumer now suffers a bit more, and all of the UPS/FEDEX savings are converted to profit and not retailer/consumer savings.

Boy this dregs up bad memories of a ton of business rules around postal business that we finally yanked out a couple of years ago. The requirements to manage/track their shipments intermodally were terrible, all EDI based and no way to track anything reasonably, and invoicing rules were a pain. Blech...

John from PA wrote in post #18716531
In defense of Adorama (and United Parcel Service) a quick look at the first two shipments indicates the following:

#1. United Parcel Service departed on Thursday arrived Tuesday. Note that this spanned a weekend.

#2. United Parcel again; departed on a Friday arrived on Wednesday. Note that this not only spans a weekend but it was Labor Day Weekend so Monday also was a holiday.

No mention is made of any priority shipping method so when you factor in a weekend on these two shipments I would say they were about what I would have expected.

As to the 3rd shipment...It is the United States Postal Service. Best I can say is the reliability with USPS is terrible; and I say that out of dealing with stuff related to the death of my sister last December. When you are the Executor of an estate you become well aware of things being mailed, shipped, etc. and of course you are also aware of its arrival. I would say the risk of loss, delay, etc. is quite high with the postal service but the average person may not be aware of it. I am talking for the most part, mailing between Cleveland OH and Philadelphia.

I guess what I was trying to say in my original post and it may have been overlooked is that in the past that Thursday shipment would have arrived on Monday instead of Tuesday. (I'm one state away) Also, the frustration with USPS is that I am not sure it even got into the hands of the company doing the transport because they claim it didn't hit their system for over 24 hours. Yeah the company promises expedited shipping or order by 7 and it goes out today, but what if the ship ticket is printed and it just doesn't actually go out the door? As I said in the post I had not experienced this in the past. Maybe something changed? Did UPS stop collecting their trailer at 8pm and instead went to 11 pm and it is causing a delay of a day, etc.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18716549
If you ran a business and shipped product, you would either have to deal with this, or you would be paying exorbitant priority shipping rates, or passing those costs to the customer and watch sales reduce.

There are only 3 options for a business to manage shipping:

1: free or reduced shipping and just deal with the subcontracted shipping lanes

2: pay for priority shipping yourself

3: or charge the customer to subsidize the priority shipping

I do #1 and #3 in my business and still deal with complaints.

It's no surprise that with numbers 1 and 3, you get complaints.

Why? Because with #1 the customer often gets service that is less than stellar, and with #3 the customer has to pay for something that he/she feels should be "free".

I think that many times, customers will only be super-happy is when the seller truly absorbs shipping costs and is willing to make less net profit on the sale.